Welcome! This is a Non-Political and a Non-Profit site (to include its authors and contributors) and does not subscribe to any revisionist organizations. This site is only to explore the combat role and history of the European Waffen-SS in World War II. Enlistment rolls show that a total of 950,000 men (German and foreigners) served in its ranks between 1940 and 1945. This blog contains a collection of real events and information on these volunteers for historical research and documentation.

Withdrawal from Narva

11.SS-Frw.Pz.Gren.Div.Nordland

On July 23 1944, SS-Obergruppenführer Steiner ordered a withdrawal to the Tannenberg Line, a prepared position 16 km to the west. The Dutch 48.SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Regiment General Seyffardt and the brigade's artillery component was to provide a rearguard for the retreating troops. The Soviet Marshal Govorov launched the Narva Offensive on the German lines on July 24 1944, and in the afternoon, the Nederland's Artillery battalion started withdrawing across the Narva bridge. The Dutchmen got involved in heavy fighting but managed to hold the Soviets while the last of the Waffen-SS volunteers got across the river. The Nordland's Pioneer Battalion blew up the bridge. However, due to a colossal mistake by its officers, the General Seyffardt regiment would not survive the withdrawal. With the exception of the General Seyffardt, the withdrawal had been a success, and Steiner's men began to dig in on the Tannenberg Line, in preparation of the next Soviet attacks. 4.SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Brigade Nederland had lost one of its two regiments, and many valuable veterans were lost forever. Image: An unidentified SS-Untersturmführer of the Nordland Division in 1944. Photo: SS-Kriegsberichter Eisner. US National Archives and Records Administration. Fair use.